Multi-scenario weighting for assessing the long-term bond retention and engineering performance of advanced cementitious tile adhesive binders

This study examines advanced polymer-modified cementitious tile adhesives labeled C2TE, C2TES1, and C2TES2, in accordance with EN 12004/ISO 13007, through a comprehensive multi-criteria performance evaluation. The methodology combines assessments of fresh-state behavior, mechanical properties, and durability-related adhesion retention into a single Performance Index (PI), aiding the evaluation of commercial adhesive systems across various service conditions. Nine commercial formulations and one traditional cement–sand mortar reference were tested using standardized procedures, including flow, slip resistance, open time, and strength tests (slant shear, tensile, flexural, compressive, and pull-off adhesion) after environmental conditioning (heat aging, water immersion, freeze–thaw). Results showed that polymer-modified, deformable adhesives generally exhibit better durability-related bond retention and environmental resistance than conventional mortars. Among the formulations, S1 exhibited the most well-rounded overall performance, while M3 had the strongest results within the C2TES2 group. The findings also highlight that compressive strength alone cannot fully gauge long-term adhesive performance, emphasizing the importance of durability-related adhesion retention in material evaluation. The framework offers a clear, reproducible method for comparing and selecting cementitious tile adhesives based on environmental and service demands.